Improvement in fasteners for egg-boxes



0. A. STEMPEL. Y FASTENERS FoP. EGG-13mm.4 M No. 187,195. Patent-ed Feb.e,1877'.

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UNITED STATEs PATENT QEEICEnv OMAR A. STEMPEL, OF OHAMOIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT INMOFASTENERS FOR EGG-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 187,195, dated February 6, 1877; application filed August 10, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OMAR A. STEMPEL, of Chamois, in the county of Osage, and State of' Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Egg-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My present invention is an improvement on my patent dated February 8,1876,No.173,365, and consists of a lid, which occupies a recess, surrounded upon all sides by the outer walls of the box. The lid is held down by a lock at the exact center, to permit of changing the lid end for end, and the bolt of this lock is held in engagement with the staple by a seal, substantially in the same manner as the lockplate of my former patent.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section, through the upper part of the box, at :u w, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top view of the lock and a portion of the box.

The sides of the box are shown at A, and the ends at B. C is the central transverse partition separating the box into two equal compartments, as usual. At the ends ot' the box are cleats B which constitute the upper part of the ends, and form the handlesby which the box may be lifted. These cleats, and the upper part of the sides, form a continuous rim, flush with the top of the lid D. The lidrests on the top of the two end pieces B B, and on the central partition G, and is held in position horizontally by the surrounding rim A B. Near the center of the lid is a cavity, d, stopped at bottom by the metallic lock-plate E, which plate has a roughened surface at e, upon which a seal is formed, behind the sliding bolt F, so as to prevent the retraction of the bolt, when the box is locked, without the destruction of the seal. The bolt,

when the box is locked, engages astaple, Gr, which extends upward, from partition C, through slot c in the lock-plate E. It will be observed that the central fastening F G e'eotually holds the lid down, and the surrounding rim A B not only prevents the lid from turning on its fastening F G, but prevents access being had to the interior of the box by straining up the end or one corner ofthe lid.

It will be seen that the box, in this case, may be made very cheaply, as, apart from the lock, it is made of wood, simply nailed together.

The lid may be made to lit so loosely as to be readily put in place or removed, (even when swelled with nioisture,) and yet form a secure fastening, owing to the lap ofthe surrounding rim A B upward past the edge of the lid D.

The staple-hole or slot e is at the center of the lid and the staple G at the center of the top of the box, so that the lid may be removed and turned end for end, and returned, or put on either way.

The box can be very quickly opened and closed, as the lid may be simply dropped into place or lifted up, (when unlocked.) The locking is done by a simple movement otI the bolt and attachment of the seal.

l claim herein as my invention- The combination, with the lid D, and surrounding rim AB', of the central fastening, consisting of metallic lock-plate E, broad sliding plate provided with bolt F, adapted to engage with a central eye or staple, G, to permit the lid to be changed end for end, as and for the purpose set forth.

OMAR A. STEMPEL.

Witnesses:

HENRY MARQUAND, C. P. OHRIsTIAN. 

